Jesus, What a Cover!

Time and Newsweek compete over their go-to religious cover boy.

As reported by publishing trade mag Folio, magazines that feature Jesus on their covers see their issue sales jump by as much as 45 percent. (Putting the Bible front and center can boost sales as much as 51 percent.) In the past couple of years, magazines such as Wired and Popular Mechanics have tried to cash in on this miracle of marketing, but the most persistent devotees are Time and Newsweek, which have spent the last decade competing over who can squeeze Jesus on the front most often.

1996

April 8Time fires the opening salvo of the Jesus wars during Holy Week.

April 8Newsweek shoots back with "Rethinking the Resurrection."

1999

March 29
More than six months early, Newsweek celebrates "2000 Years of Jesus."

December 6Time reminisces about "Jesus at 2000."

2004

December 13Newsweek looks into "The Birth of Jesus."

December 13Time reveals "Secrets of the Nativity."

2005

March 21Time goes for broke with "Hail, Mary."

March 28Newsweek intercepts with the backstory of "How Jesus Became Christ."